Location: Christon Bank

Photo: Bart Wursten
Brachystegia boehmii woodland

Photo: Bart Wursten
Brachystegia boehmii in spring colours

Photo: Bart Wursten
Brachystegia glaucescens on the rocky slopes

Photo: Bart Wursten
View towards Spelonken Farm and the Mazowe River

Photo: Bart Wursten
Spectacular rock formations on the granite kopjes

Photo: Bart Wursten
Regeneration after illegal wood cutting

Photo: Bart Wursten
Soil disturbance after gold mining activities

Photo: Bart Wursten
Riverine fringes along a Mazowe tributary

Photo: Bart Wursten
A Protection Sign

Photo: Bart Wursten
....and another protection sign

General Information

Description

Christon Bank is situated about 30 km north of Harare. It is an area of rocky hillsides and Brachystegia boehmii dominated woodland near the Mazowe River. Several properties were donated to the National Botanical Gardens in the seventies and have been maintained and protected under the name Mazowe Botanic Reserve. Although there is still much of botanical interest, the area is under serious threat from illegal wood cutting and gold panning activities. Species of special interest, found in the area, are the rare Vernonia exsertiflora (Asteraceae) and Teclea rogersii (Rutaceae). More common species of interest are Euphorbia griseola subsp. mashonica (Euphorbiaceae), terrestrial orchids, such as Eulophia petersii, E. rolfeana and E. subsaprophytica, and epiphytes like Calyptrochilum christyanum and the tiny Polystachya greatrexii

Useful links

View a list of records for Christon Bank

View map showing records

View a list of recorders who have visited this location